Strauss-Kahn sex case maid speaks out

By David Usborne in New York

The chambermaid who has accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault in a hotel room in May used her first Press conference yesterday to state her case against the former IMF director and to express her anguish at her circumstances.

Nafissatou Diallo accused former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexually attacking her (AP)

Dominique Strauss-Kahn

The chambermaid who has accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault in a hotel room in May used her first Press conference yesterday to state her case against the former IMF director and to express her anguish at her circumstances.

The housekeeper, Nafissatou Diallo, offered thanks to everyone who has been supporting her and said she had decided to face the media because of "bad things" that have been said about her that are untrue.

She said that she asks God why she was chosen for the ordeal: "I say, God, why me, why me?"

Earlier this week Ms Diallo, originally from Guinea in West Africa, spent nearly eight hours talking to prosecutors about the case against Strauss-Kahn.

Her camp appears to be scrambling to avert a decision by the Manhattan District Attorney to drop the seven charges filed against the former IMF director.

Doubts were cast on Ms Diallo's assertions after the DA's office acknowledged they had found some inconsistencies in her story.

There were also reports that she had said in phone conversations with a male acquaintance, who is in prison, that she recognised Strauss-Kahn was powerful and wealthy and she might stand to make some financial gain from the affair.